Blue Devils go 1-2 in Bearcat Blast
West Memphis softball gets extra work in over cold weekend
By RALPH HARDIN
ralphhardin@gmail.com
The West Memphis School District is on Spring Break this week, but before the Blue Devils went off to warmer climes, they spent the weekend in the frozen tundra of the Jonesboro Southside Softball Complex playing in the 2023 Bearcat Blast.
With temperatures in the low 40s and constant gusting north winds, it was decidedly not typical softball weather, but the Blue Devils gutted it out, gained some valuable playing time and came away with a 1-2 record.
Walnut Ridge 13, West Memphis 3
The Blue Devils came out swinging to open the Bearcat Blast, putting two runs on the board and holding 3-1 edge going into the 4th inning before the Bobcats’ bats came alive and Walnut Ridge took the lead with four runs off of starting pitcher Haley Williams. From there it was all Walnut Ridge and the Bobcats took the win by a final score of 13-3.
Jordyn Hightower provided the bulk of the Blue Devils’ offense, with a hit, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored.
Bartlett 6, West Memphis 3
Up next were the Bartlett Panthers. Again, the Blue Devils were on the board first, plating a run in each of the first two innings, but Bartlett brought five runs across the plate in the third inning. West Memphis scored again in the third inning but another run for the Panthers secured a 6-3 win for Bartlett, sending West Memphis into the consolation bracket.
West Memphis got hits from Terra Hardin, Carlie Steele and Haley Williams to account for the Devils’ scoring. Jordyn Hightower took the loss, albeit without giving up an earned run, as untimely errors with two outs accounted for the Panthers’ runs.
West Memphis 6, Highland 5
The Blue Devils finally broke into the win column against the Highland Rebels to close out the tourney and finish on a high note. For the third straight game, the Blue Devils took the early lead, going up 1-0 in the first before
See SOFTBALL, page A10
Junior pitcher Jordyn Hightower fires a fastball for the Blue Devils.
Photos by Ralph Hardin
Freshman third-baseman Presley Kuhn takes a swing for the West Memphis offense.
From page A9
Highland took advantage of some walks and a big hit to notch a pair of runs in their half of the inning.
West Memphis battled back, however, with a big inning, plating four runs of their own in the second inning. Highland got one of those runs back in the third, but the Devils answered in the next frame to go up 6-4. The Rebels got within one but the Devils defense held the line and West Memphis went on to win by a final score of 6-5.
West Memphis got key atbats from Terra Hardin (1-1, 2 BB, 1 RBI) and Carlie Steele (1-1, 2 BB, 2 RBI) at the top of the order, and a complete game from Haley Williams to pick up the win.
“We were three or four plays from playing for a trophy today,” said Coach Mike Dobbins after the tourney. “I am proud of them and their effort. I hope they get some rest.”
Following Spring Break, the Blue Devils (5-6, 0-2 5A East) return to action in 5A East competition on Tuesday, March 28, taking on Batesville in a double-header.
